Part II | San Diego

In my last entry we left off at the Cleopatra Records celebratory show for my friend Kristof's band getting the label.

The following Saturday morning (kind of) I slept in (by mistake) and made the 2.5 hour drive down to see my MMO friend Alicia. Also known as (to me) Tarshana. 

It was a relaxing trip despite my fear of everything on the road in California. Just non stop driving and my stupid music. Unfortunately, I don't know how batteries and chargers work and my phone ended up being pretty much dead the entire trip, so I don't have much content to share visually speaking. I will be borrowing some of Tarsh's pictures. But BOY was it an adventure.

Once I finally figured out how to find the road that leads into the hotel parking lot --it was labeled with signs that had NOTHING to do with ... anything -- I went up to her room to later find that she and Alan were standing down by the road waiting for me lol. YAY

She introduced me to Alan, who is her friend that she met also through gaming and lived locally. He and I clicked instantly because I automatically got the "introvert" alarm go off on my radar. Tarshana is the total opposite XD. That can be a good thing because sometimes there needs to be a bit of a balance.

Upon entering the hotel room I was pleasantly surprised with a warm greeting from her little Pug companion Daisy!!

I got settled in with all my crap and we headed off to the San Diego zoo. That place is massive, and we only had a few hours to check it out (because I'm stupid) so we hauled ass in trying to see everything we could. It hurt.

I forgot my parasol back home and panicked so I bought another one at the zoo.

Fuck the sun. Seriously.

Tarsh bought one too :D

 FUCK THE SUN PLOX

 

We got to touch a Starfish at the aquarium we went to the next day. 

It felt like a dragon.

 O hi. I hate people who stare at me too.

 "IT FEELS LIKE A DRAGON"

 Alan and Alicia ^^

Later that evening we went to go eat. It took us a while to decide what, but we ended up in little Korea ... area I think.. which was exactly where I was the last time I visited there. There was some place that the gps took us to which ended up actually being inside a grocery store and was some wonky over priced booth in a corner.
I couldn't for the life of me remember what the Ramen noodle house was called that I was at before, I thought it was chopstix, but there was a fried chicken and stuff place in the shopping center we were at also called chopstix... so it couldn't be that.

We decided to look around until I finally spotted it a few streets away in another little strip. Fucking chopstix. After a few u-turns we made it and I lost my shit. This place is amazing and I'm glad we were able to find it. Alicia loved it. Alan I later discovered doesn't care for almost everything, much. lol but he was open enough to try it. If we had known sooner we couldn't gone somewhere else, I feel bad =\.

The unagi don is soooooooo good ugh.

Now that I know where it is I have zero issues with going down there just to eat at this place. dear god.

Before we left to eat though, Tarshana was like Josh should be here. So I texted him to come down, and he did. He got there around the time we arrived back at the hotel.
It was Halloween weekend so Tarshana was super excited to go out and do something. lol, Alan and I were agreeable. Josh was excited to go do something too, so out we went. There was some club sorta downtown-ish that we went to. Turns out it was a goth club I think, but it was all Halloween themed and lots of people were decked out in costumes.

We went to the back and found a booth where we just chilled the whole night. I didn't really wanna drink but they insisted so whatever. Halloween weekend wooooo
Tarshana and Josh were definitely clicking, at least with their personalities. Alan and I clicked in a more... we're scared of people way. But we all had a good time :)

They played good music though.

Afterwards we went back to the hotel and I thought it would be a good idea for Josh to stay with Tarsh at the hotel and I just couch it at Alan's. So that happened. I think Tarshana thought something else was gonna happen? Nope lol.

The next morning Alan and I got ready and picked them up. We went to International house of pancakes. What a small little town. It was as if the people there never knew that individuality is a real thing. Good times.

Then we went to the naval base to see if we could find some tickets to stuff. I know nothing about stuff ever. Tarsh apparently knows tons about stuff and how to do stuff out in the world for less money because of these base things. It's amazing. I had no idea these existed. I felt like a unit in an RTS.
We ended up deciding on visiting an Aquarium. I forget the name of it, but it was cuuute. I love da fishies.

My roommate Josh, and Alan. 

After that we also went to a beach. Which beach? I don't remember... or rather I don't know, lol. But a lot of people take their doggies there for fun doggie times and exercise, so we went back to the hotel to get Daisy and took a nice long stroll on the beach. At least I think it was a beach....

Parasol in hand. Fuck the sun.

It was a reaaally, really long walk. I had no idea people do this for fun. Without parasols. In the day time. Amazing. 

Daisy seemed to enjoy herself. She was definitely popular amongst the other doggies. We saw all sorts of breeds. The coolest one was a greyhound. Beautiful doggie. They look like gazelle and their strides are humungous. So awesome to watch it run.

By the time we got back to the hotel it was around 5pm, and I had to drive back home because I worked early the next morning.

What an activity filled trip. But it was cool to meet Tarsh and Alan. It's geeky as shit but that's the best part about it. You instantly already have common ground because you met through a video game. So it's like boom. Stuff to talk about. Done. 

Tarshana was just here in CA for the weekend, I believe her flight left Monday evening. But it's not the last we see of Alan. And Josh. 

You see, there's this convention in Long Beach... but that'll have to wait for another entry. 

Ah, San Diego. We'll meet again I'm sure. Definitely for San Diego Comic Con ^^

Cleopatra Records

The days after Halloween are the best to go shopping for stuff because it all goes on sale. The real trick is to wait a few days later because it steadily goes from being 10% off to 75% off.

This is probably one of my favorite things about this Holiday. That and the photos of pets in costume.

This year's Holiday was no different than any other normal day. I came home from work, browsed the interwebs, took a nap with Rot, woke up, browsed more interwebs, played some GW2 and then went to bed. I keep wanting to make charms but eeeeeeeehhh. I may get to some today. I need to be in a mood and have the perfect content streaming on Netflix. Otherwise the magic can't happen.

Last weekend however, Rot and I did do a little bit of mingling. Kristof very much wanted us to be there for the Cleopatra records show in celebration of DOA's new label. As usual it took a bit more convincing to get Rot to agree, but it was achieved. Getting Rot to go out anywhere should come with an achievement. I don't mind it much, but many of our buddies don't know or understand that about him. It makes me feel sad for them because he often disappoints in that regard, and he's completely fine with that. :P

I also went to San Diego! That was incredibly fun. Though it probably didn't seem like to because I was pretty quiet throughout most of it, it was still rather enjoyable.
Also, my friend Jason scooped me up out of the blue. He's fun and spontaneous like that-- that weirdo.

I think it was Friday?
Maybe... I dunno.
Anyway Jason asked me to stop by the studio because he had this set of Drow trading cards he wanted to give me. Naturally I was like omfg fuck yes. When I got there he was in the middle of launching his new music video on Youtube. He showed it to me and asked me what I thought. All I could think of to say was boobs. And good marketing strategy. Because boobs. Lots of boobs. Good job, Jason :P

 

^-^

But then he had to do business stuff, but said he wanted to do lunch, so I hung out for a bit til he was done and we went to our secret cafe place! Almost as good as Denny's... almost.

Hmph. He has his own Monster sponsored fridge -____-

I SHOULD'VE GRABBED THEM ALL

After lunch we went to his friend's coffee shop. TURNS OUT THIS ISN'T THE FIRST I'VE HEARD OF THIS PLACE. Moby's. Very very cute, comfy, adorable coffee joint in NoHo. They have open mic nights and craft nights. And they opened earlier this year... getting settled in and stuff. I love that place. Jason got a cup of joe and I ordered the spearmint tea ^^ nom nom and we just kinda chilled there for a while til we headed back to the studio and said byes. 

Later that night was the show Kristof had told us about, but I totally thought it was Saturday. OH WELL.

Rot arrived home from work and we got ready.

There's still some blood on the sink this very moment. 

It just looks cool. Or we're both leaving it to see who will clean it up first. 

I don't mind it being there though xD

Liquid latex on the floor kinda sucked though.

Anywho, we got there and were surrounded by lots of 'normal' people dressed up in tacky black clothing and bronzer out on the lounge-y patio area. Within the venues' glass doors was an excited crowd raving to the two dubstep DJs who both wore rabbit masks with LED lit eyes, similar to the one in Donnie Darko.
But we were greeted by Kristof and his lady, and a very giddy Marshall. He immediately brought Rot and I over to introduce us to Chris Vrenna. He's a producer/musician of note who was in Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, and worked with a shit ton of other big musicians of similar taste. He's been working on DOA's album so... I had to put on my schmooze face.

I didn't recognize a lot of people though. The ones I did notice were Bahemoth, Meritt, Marshall, his P.A. Sarah who I got to know a little more that that, Kristof's lady, and I talked a little more with Lynett. DOA's bassist. I really like her. She's very chill and like... really nice. And not insane. And she looks cool. 

There was a special host that night as well. Eva O who was one of the most notable female vocalists back in the day in an old school goth back called Christian Death. She was hosting the event and Marshall was a puddle on the floor upon meeting her.

Grim as fuk

Poor Sarah. She was really tired. She had a long day, but she hung in there. lol

He was very giddy.

Reunited and it feels... better.

I wish I had taken more photos but the venue wasn't lit very well. Flash photography isn't my strong suit and they always come out stupid looking because of the exaggerated colors that I have to go in and edit them so they don't look piss colored.Oh wells

EEEEEEEEEE.

I still need to go through my San Diego pictures, but rest assured they will be here. There was ramen.

Tomorrow I work only a few hours. I'm gonna come home and nap so hard. 

Then off to do exciting things all weekend ^-^

I look sad and elvish.

Totally okay with that.